As your wedding preparations get into full swing, wedding invitations should be regarded as one of the most significant components of the big day. Not only do wedding invitations inform your guests that they are invited, but they also provide vital information about the event and can set the tone for the occasion.
For wedding organisers intent on doing things ‘right’, there is such thing as wedding invitation etiquette. You don’t have to follow it religiously – everything you do for your wedding should make you feel comfortable. But if you are stressing and at a loss as to what to include, we here at DC Creative are on hand to help you wade through the minefield that is wedding invitation etiquette.
When should we send out our wedding invitations?
Wedding invitations are generally sent out about eight weeks before your wedding to give guests time to buy the outfit and RSVP. However, if you’re inviting people from abroad or having a destination wedding, good etiquette is to send save the date cards out up to a year beforehand. If your wedding is in Ireland but requires some travelling and staying over at the hotel, it is polite to give your guests a bit more than the eight-week notice (10 weeks at least) so they can book the hotel and prepare for what is often an expensive occasion.
What information should we put on our invitations?
All invitations should have basic information noting church, wedding venue, time and RSVP date but good etiquette demands they go beyond that. The days of simple wedding invitations are coming to an end, as more and more couples look to include as much information as possible. It’s not a necessity to include directions and accommodation options with your invitation but it can show the guest that you want to make things as easy as possible for them, and can illustrate great attention to detail. However, it is important that extra information is provided on the same stationery as the invitation. Scraps of paper are a no-no.
How long should we give people to RSVP and how should they RSVP?
In the past, RSVP cards were always the way to go but technological advances have meant that some members of generation Y wouldn’t know what to do with a stamp if you gave them one. If you prefer the traditional postal mode, then it is good etiquette to include a stamp-addressed envelope. If you want to go the more modern route – you should include RSVP cards with your details on them – phone, email and a wedding website if you have one.
The deadline dates for RSVPs can often depend on your hotel. If it requires your final head count three weeks before the wedding, then set the RSVP date at least a week earlier than that. This will give the stragglers a bit of time to reply. If you don’t receive an RSVP don’t assume an invitee isn’t going. Follow it up with a polite call to double check their attendance.
What wording should we use?
Wedding information grammar tends to be formal, and most invitations will have traditional elements, such as the host line, request line, date and time lines, location line, reception line and RSVP line. In the past parents tended to pay for weddings so they were regarded as the host, but today as this tradition subsides somewhat, many wedding parties don’t include the parents’ names. Here’s an example of two invitations:
Host line: Mr and Mrs John Smith
Request line: request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their daughter/ would like to invite you to the happy occasion of the marriage of their daughter
Bride and Groom lines: Ann
to
Barry
Date line: on Sunday, 1st of January 2080
Time line: at 2 o’clock
Church line: in St Bernadette’s Church, Sundrive Road, Crumlin, Dublin
Reception line: and afterwards at a reception at the Castleknock Hotel and Country Club, Castleknock, County Dublin
RSVP line: RSVP 1st of December 2079
With many parents divorced or separated today, the above can sometimes cause issues so it may be best to have the invitation from the bride and groom. Here’s an example
Host line: Ann Smith and Barry Jones (bride’s name tends to go first)
Request line: request the honour of your presence/ would like you to share in their special day
Date line: on Sunday, 1st of January 2080
Time line: at 2 o’clock
Church line: in St Bernadette’s Church, Crumlin, Dublin
Reception line: and afterwards at a reception at Castleknock Hotel and Country Club, Castleknock, Co Dublin
RSVP line: RSVP 1st of December 2079
While it is important to include all of the lines, our advice here at DC Creative is to choose wording that makes you feel comfortable and good.
Above all, organising your wedding invitations should be an enjoyable experience, and even fun. Yes, it’s important to put some effort in but keep the end goal in mind – to have a great and memorable day.
